The Eye of the Needle

Stephan Gozdecki showed his ignorance in a letter to the editor. He says: "I have no issues with a good Christian candidate, but it does not appear that any of the current Republican contenders fit that description. Aren't they all millionaires? My Bible says that a rich man has as much chance as (sic) getting into heaven as a camel through an eye of a needle. I'm not sure what their Bible says."

Well, Mr. Gozdecki, their Bible says that "whosoever will may come." It doesn't say "whosoever will, except for the rich." And about that eye of the needle thing? You have to know what the eye of the needle is. In Bible times, cities were protected by huge walls. Gates into the city were opened during the day. At night, they were closed. Inset in the large gate would be a smaller one, called the eye of the needle, that could be opened after the gates were closed to the normal daytime traffic (see photo). For a camel to fit through this small gate, he had to kneel down and be unloaded of his burdens.

So, Mr. Gozdecki, a camel could fit through the eye of the needle, but it wasn't easy. Just like every other sinner, and just like the camel, the rich have to kneel down at the feet of Jesus and be unloaded of their burden of sin. The only reason it is harder for a rich man to do this than for a poor one to is because the rich tend to depend on their riches instead of God. But I have known several rich Christians. The words can, and often do, go together. Conversely, I have known many vile poor people.

I don't know about the spiritual status of all the Republican candidates, but I can assure you that being rich does not preclude them from being Christian. And besides all that, there is more wealth in the Democrat side of congress than there is in the Republican. Check it out -- and might I suggest that you check it out a little closer than you checked out "what your Bible said."

"Are candidates good Christians?" The Dallas Morning News; September 1, 2011; p. 14A.